# Yukari Nakano

Yukari Nakano (中野 友加里, Nakano Yukari, born August 25, 1985) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is the 2006 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2003 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2005–06 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2007 Asian Winter Games champion, and a three-time (2006, 2007, 2009) Japanese national bronze medalist. Nakano is one of a select group of female skaters to perform a triple Axel in international competition in the 2000s.

## Personal life

Yukari Nakano was born on August 25, 1985, in Kōnan, Aichi Prefecture. She has two elder siblings, a brother and sister.
In 2004, Nakano enrolled at Waseda University in Tokyo. She earned her master's degree from Waseda, having studied at the Graduate School of Human Sciences. In 2010, she began working for Fuji Television's Sports Division, becoming a director and journalist.
In April 2015, Nakano married her longtime boyfriend.

## Career

Nakano started skating in 1991 at the Grand Prix Tokai Figure Skating Club, where Machiko Yamada was coaching. Nakano met Midori Ito there, who inspired her to take her skating seriously.
On the junior level, Nakano won two ISU Junior Grand Prix events and earned the silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships.
At her first senior international event, the 2002 Skate America, Nakano became the third female skater in the history of the sport to land a triple Axel in an ISU sanctioned competition, and the first to have done so in ten years. She went on to land a triple Axel-double toe loop combinations at the 2002 Japanese Nationals, the West Japan Championships 2002, and the Kanto Gakusei Freeskating Championships 2004.
Nakano won her first Grand Prix medals in her fourth season on the circuit: bronze at the 2005 Skate Canada International and gold at the 2005 NHK Trophy. She qualified for the 2005–06 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final where she took the bronze. She landed triple Axels in five consecutive competitions in 2005 (Yamanashi Kokutai 2005, Kanto Gakusei Freeskating Championships, Tokyo Figure Skating Championships, Skate Canada International, and Asian Figure Skating Championships). At the 2005 Skate Canada, she became the first woman to land a triple Axel under the ISU Judging System in ISU Senior level competition. She placed 5th at the 2005–06 Nationals, missing a berth on the Olympic team. At the World Championships she finished 5th in 2006, 5th in 2007 and 4th in 2008.
In the 2008–09 season, Nakano won the silver medal at the 2008 Skate America and the bronze at the 2008 NHK Trophy. She qualified for the 2008–09 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, where she placed fifth. At the 2008–09 Japan Figure Skating Championships, Nakano led after the short program but three of her jumps were downgraded in the free skate, resulting in her placing 6th in the long program and 5th overall. She did not qualify for the 2009 world team.
At her assigned events for the 2009–10 Grand Prix series, Nakano won the bronze medal at the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard and finished fourth at the 2009 NHK Trophy. Although she won the bronze medal at the 2009–10 Japan Championships, she was not assigned to the 2010 Olympic team; fourth-place finisher Miki Ando was awarded the first Olympic spot due to her highest placement as a Japanese female skater in the 2009–10 Grand Prix Final, along with gold and silver Japanese medalists Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki.
Nakano retired from competitive skating in March 2010 due to an injury to her left shoulder.

## Triple Axel and signature moves

In her regional competition at the beginning of the 2007–08 season, Nakano landed her first clean triple Axel in two years. She consistently attempted the triple Axel that season, receiving credit for it at the 2007 Skate Canada International, 2007 Cup of Russia, and the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final.
Nakano's signature move is the donut spin. She is also known for her leg wrap when she jumps.

## Programs

| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
| 2009–2010 | The Phantom of the Opera by Julian Lloyd Webber, Sarah Chang choreo. by Marina Zueva | The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky choreo. by Marina Zueva | Harem by Sarah Brightman choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto Sparkling Diamonds (from Moulin Rouge!) by Nicole Kidman choreo. by Kumiko Sato |
| 2008–2009 | Romance from The Gadfly Op.97a by Dmitri Shostakovich choreo. by Marina Zueva | Giselle by Adolphe Charles Adam choreo. by Marina Zueva | Somewhere (from West Side Story) by Barbra Streisand choreo. by Marina Zueva Bolero (from Moulin Rouge!) by Steve Sharples performed by Craig Armstrong choreo. by Marina Zueva, Yukari Nakano |
| 2007–2008 | Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin performed by Yundi Li choreo. by Kumiko Sato | Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov choreo. by Marina Zueva | Aria Le cygne (from The Carnival of the Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns performed by Giorgia Fumanti choreo. by Kumiko Sato Corteo Ritornare (from Cirque du Soleil) choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto |
| 2006–2007 | Memoirs of a Geisha by John Williams choreo. by Marina Zueva | Cinderella by Sergei Prokofiev choreo. by Marina Zueva | Claudine by Tonči Huljić performed by Maksim Mrvica choreo. by Kumiko Sato Memoirs of a Geisha by John Williams choreo. by Marina Zueva |
| 2005–2006 | Bolero (from Moulin Rouge!) by Steve Sharples performed by Craig Armstrong choreo. by Marina Zueva | Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus choreo. by Marina Zueva | Amazing Grace by Hayley Westenra choreo. by Kumiko Sato |
| 2004–2005 | Bacchanalia (from Faust) by Charles Gounod choreo. by Marina Zueva | The Beatles medley by Peter Nero choreo. by Marina Zueva | Cell Block Tango (from Chicago) by John Kander choreo. by Marina Zueva |
| 2003–2004 | Prayer for Taylor from Freedom by Michael W. Smith choreo. by David Wilson | Etude No. 12 in C minor "Revolutionary" Op. 10-12 by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi | Nocturne (from Songs from a Secret Garden) by Rolf Løvland choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi |
| 2002–2003 | Prayer for Taylor from Freedom by Michael W. Smith choreo. by David Wilson | Oui, pour ce soir... je suis Titania, Mignon by Ambroise Thomas choreo. by David Wilson | Nocturne (from Songs from a Secret Garden) by Rolf Lovland choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi |
| 2001–2002 | Perhaps Love by John Denver performed by James Galway choreo. by David Wilson | Carnival Overture Op. 92 by Antonín Dvořák choreo. by Lea Ann Miller | Happy Valley by Vanessa-Mae choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi |
| 2000–2001 | Perhaps Love by John Denver performed by James Galway choreo. by David Wilson | Times Square choreo. by David Wilson | Happy Valley by Vanessa-Mae choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi |
| 1999–2000 | Flute Battle by Cusco choreo. by David Wilson | Le Grand Tango by Ástor Piazzolla choreo. by David Wilson | |

## Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix
International :
| Event | 97–98 | 98–99 | 99–00 | 00–01 | 01–02 | 02–03 | 03–04 | 04–05 | 05–06 | 06–07 | 07–08 | 08–09 | 09–10 |
| Worlds | | | | | | | | | 5th | 5th | 4th | | |
| Four Continents | | | | | | 3rd | 6th | 11th | 2nd | | | | |
| GP Final | | | | | | | | | 3rd | | 5th | 5th | |
| GP Cup of China | | | | | | | | 11th | | 2nd | | | |
| GP Cup of Russia | | | | | | | 8th | | | | 2nd | | |
| GP Lalique/Bompard | | | | | | 6th | | | | | | | 3rd |
| GP NHK Trophy | | | | | | | | | 1st | 3rd | | 3rd | 4th |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | 7th | 8th | | | | | 2nd | |
| GP Skate Canada | | | | | | | | 11th | 3rd | | 2nd | | |
| Universiade | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | |
| Asian Games | | | | | | 3rd | | | | 1st | | | |
| Asian Champ. | | | | | | | | 1st | 1st | | | | |
| International: Junior or novice ||||||||||||||
| Junior Worlds | | | 7th | 4th | 2nd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Final | | | 5th | 3rd | 5th | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Bulgaria | | | | | 3rd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Canada | | | 4th | | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP China | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Japan | | | 2nd | | 2nd | | | | | | | | |
| JGP Mexico | | | | 1st | | | | | | | | | |
| Triglav Trophy | | 1st N | | | | | | | | | | | |
| National ||||||||||||||
| Japan Champ. | | | 8th | | 5th | 6th | 7th | 6th | 5th | 3rd | 3rd | 5th | 3rd |
| Japan Junior | | 11th | | 1st | 2nd | | | | | | | | |
| Japan Novice | 9th A | 1st A | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Team events ||||||||||||||
| Japan Open | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3rd T 4th P |
| N = Novice level T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only. ||||||||||||||

## Detailed results

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships.

### Post–2002

2009–2010 season :
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| December 25–27, 2009 | 2009–10 Japan Championships | 2 68.90 | 3 126.83 | 3 195.73 |
| November 5–8, 2009 | 2009 NHK Trophy | 3 54.92 | 5 97.43 | 4 152.35 |
| October 15–18, 2009 | 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard | 2 59.64 | 3 106.06 | 3 165.70 |
| 2008–2009 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| February 18–28, 2009 | 2009 Winter Universiade | 4 52.70 | 1 101.93 | 1 154.63 |
| December 25–27, 2008 | 2008–09 Japan Championships | 1 67.26 | 6 105.34 | 5 172.60 |
| December 10–14, 2008 | 2008–09 Grand Prix Final | 3 62.08 | 6 99.85 | 5 161.93 |
| November 27–30, 2008 | 2008 NHK Trophy | 5 54.82 | 3 112.60 | 3 167.42 |
| October 23–26, 2008 | 2008 Skate America | 3 57.46 | 2 115.07 | 2 172.53 |
| 2007–2008 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 17–23, 2008 | 2008 World Championships | 3 61.10 | 4 116.30 | 4 177.40 |
| December 26–28, 2007 | 2007–08 Japan Championships | 4 61.16 | 3 123.15 | 3 184.31 |
| December 13–16, 2007 | 2007–08 Grand Prix Final | 4 59.78 | 5 113.18 | 5 172.96 |
| November 22–25, 2007 | 2007 Cup of Russia | 2 60.50 | 3 112.27 | 2 172.77 |
| November 1–4, 2007 | 2007 Skate Canada International | 4 55.94 | 2 113.49 | 2 169.43 |
| 2006–2007 season |||||
| Date | Event | SP | FS | Total |
| March 19–26, 2007 | 2007 World Championships | 7 60.62 | 6 108.30 | 5 168.92 |
| January 28 – February 4, 2007 | 2007 Asian Winter Games | 2 57.36 | 1 105.02 | 1 162.38 |
| December 27–29, 2006 | 2006–07 Japan Championships | 3 63.34 | 2 116.38 | 3 179.72 |
| November 30 – December 3, 2006 | 2006 NHK Trophy | 3 56.86 | 3 104.07 | 3 160.93 |
| November 9–12, 2006 | 2006 Cup of China | 2 54.90 | 2 96.37 | 2 151.27 |
2005–2006 season :
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| March 19–26, 2006 | 2006 World Championships | 4 27.79 | 6 59.62 | 6 108.24 | 5 195.65 |
| January 23–26, 2006 | 2006 Four Continents Championships | – | 3 53.53 | 1 107.96 | 2 161.49 |
| December 23–25, 2005 | 2005–06 Japan Championships | – | 5 61.46 | 5 114.20 | 5 175.66 |
| December 16–18, 2005 | 2005–06 Grand Prix Final | – | 4 56.04 | 3 105.78 | 3 161.82 |
| December 1–4, 2005 | 2005 NHK Trophy | – | 2 56.22 | 2 102.44 | 1 158.66 |
| October 27–30, 2005 | 2005 Skate Canada International | – | 4 49.84 | 3 99.70 | 3 149.54 |
| 2004–2005 season ||||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| February 14–20, 2005 | 2005 Four Continents Championships | – | 9 45.17 | 12 76.57 | 11 121.74 |
| January 12–22, 2005 | 2005 Winter Universiade | – | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| December 24–26, 2004 | 2004–05 Japan Championships | – | 7 49.08 | 6 98.40 | 6 147.48 |
| November 11–14, 2004 | 2004 Cup of China | – | 11 38.76 | 9 78.18 | 11 116.94 |
| October 28–31, 2004 | 2004 Skate Canada International | – | 11 37.58 | 10 76.10 | 11 113.68 |
| 2003–2004 season ||||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| January 19–25, 2004 | 2004 Four Continents Championships | – | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| December 25–27, 2003 | 2003–04 Japan Championships | – | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| November 20–23, 2003 | 2003 Cup of Russia | – | 7 44.68 | 8 83.00 | 8 127.68 |
| October 23–26, 2003 | 2003 Skate America | – | 10 44.20 | 7 87.90 | 8 132.10 |
| 2002–2003 season ||||||
| Date | Event | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| February 10–16, 2003 | 2003 Four Continents Championships | – | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| February 1–8, 2003 | 2003 Asian Winter Games | – | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| December 20–22, 2002 | 2002–03 Japan Championships | – | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| November 14–17, 2002 | 2002 Trophée Lalique | – | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| October 24–27, 2002 | 2002 Skate America | – | 8 | 6 | 7 |

### Pre–2002

2001–2002 season :
| Date | Event | Level | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| March 3–10, 2002 | 2002 World Junior Championships | Junior | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| December 21–23, 2001 | 2001–02 Japan Championships | Senior | – | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| December 13–16, 2001 | 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | – | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| November 24–25, 2001 | 2001–02 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | – | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| November 15–18, 2001 | 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix, Japan | Junior | – | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| September 13–16, 2001 | 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix, Bulgaria | Junior | – | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000–2001 season |||||||
| Date | Event | Level | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| February 25 – March 4, 2001 | 2001 World Junior Championships | Junior | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| December 14–17, 2000 | 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix Final | Junior | – | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| November 25–26, 2000 | 2000–01 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | – | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| October 12–15, 2000 | 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix, China | Junior | – | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| September 14–17, 2000 | 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix, Mexico | Junior | – | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999–2000 season |||||||
| Date | Event | Level | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| March 5–12, 2000 | 2000 World Junior Championships | Junior | 3 | 4 | 9 | 7 |
| December 24–26, 1999 | 1999–2000 Japan Championships | Senior | – | 10 | 7 | 8 |
| November 18–21, 1999 | 1999–2000 Junior Grand Prix, Japan | Junior | – | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| September 29 – October 3, 1999 | 1999–2000 Junior Grand Prix, Canada | Junior | – | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 1998–1999 season |||||||
| Date | Event | Level | QR | SP | FS | Total |
| April 7–11, 1999 | 1999 Triglav Trophy | Novice | | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| October 30 – November 1, 1998 | 1998–99 Japan Junior Championships | Junior | | 16 | 9 | 11 |
* QR = Qualifying round; SP = Short program; FS = Free skating